Dick Clark, Creativity and the American Bandstand

Just two days ago, Dick Clark passed away at the age of 82. For the current generation of youngsters, Clark was known as the host of the New Year’s Eve ball-drop special on NBC. For anyone over the age of 25, however, he was the host of American Bandstand , a legend and an icon. He helped propel many of the most well known performers of the past fifty years to greatness and gave those doomed to obscurity their moment in the sun.

Dick Clark saw hundreds of performers grace the American Bandstand stage during his tenure. Everyone from Chubby Checker and The Doors, to Michael Jackson and Madonna made an appearance on the show, and Dick Clark and American Bandstand had a say in the success of all of them.

One performer, however, took to the American Bandstand stage a few more times than others. And, when I say a few, I mean he performed on the show about 100 times more than the average performer. Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon performed on American Bandstand 110 times, giving him the record for the most times appearing on the stage that Dick Clark built.

While his name might not be one that many from the current generation recognize and few of his 22 Billboard Hot 100 songs have had the staying power of some of the tracks by his contemporaries, Freddy Cannon was a staple on American Bandstand. His brand of rock and roll was catchy and addictive, so much so that Dick Clark helped him get his first record label contract with Swan Records in 1959, prior to both Dick Clark and Freddy Cannon’s involvement with American Bandstand.

Today, Freddy Cannon is still performing at the age of 72. When he isn’t performing “Tallahassee Lassie” or “Palisades Park” to legions of loyal fans, however, he is drawing pencil portraits of musicians, celebrities and athletes and creating his own brand of “Rock and Roll Art.” In fact, his website features an entire gallery dedicated to these pencil portraits and ordering instructions so you can get your very own Freddy Cannon original. He even accepts commissions if there is a specific rock and roll legend you want to see recreated in graphite.

Freddy Cannon is just one artist whose success is tied directly to Dick Clark and the American Bandstand stage. Dick Clark’s legacy lives on in the Freddy Cannon’s of the world, their music, their art and their fans and, because of that, he will never be forgotten.

Photo courtesy of the WikiMedia Commons